Venus advances at Family Cup

Venus Williams rallied in each set for a 7-5, 7-5 second-round victory in the WTA Family Circle Cup. Photo by: Mic Smith

Charleston, United States – Venus Williams rallied in each set for a 7-5, 7-5 second-round victory in the WTA Family Circle Cup, a day after sister Serena crashed out.

Venus, the 11th seed who won the title on the green clay at Charleston in 2004, defeated South African Chanelle Scheepers 7-5, 7-5.

“She was playing so well, but the good thing is that when I get behind, I give even more effort and get even more focused,” said Venus, who lost in the semi-finals last year to her younger sister Serena.

Serena, the world number one and top seed, was stunned on Tuesday by Slovakian Jana Cepelova, the American unable to maintain her momentum after lifting an emotional seventh title in Miami at the weekend.

Venus said the defeat would give her sister a well-deserved chance to rest. Venus, herself a seven-time Grand Slam champion who has battled injury and illness the past two years, is very much alive.

She won her first WTA title in 16 months in Dubai in February.

“I've been playing well from behind lately, which is something you really have to be able to do to win big matches,” she said. “You're not always going to be ahead.”